Buatsi outpoints friend Azeez in fierce fight, earns 175 title shot

Azim retains European title when Poulsen suffers freak injury

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When the rough, tough fight was over Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez embraced and Buatsi gave him a kiss on the forehead.

The light heavyweight contenders are also close friends and longtime sparring partners, and had put their relationship aside to square off in the high-stakes fight with a world title shot at stake. But as grueling as the fight was, when it was over they were back to being buddies.

It was Buatsi who claimed the bragging rights of the friendship after scoring two messy knockdowns against Azeez in the 11th round en route to winning a unanimous decision in their WBA light heavyweight title elimination bout in the main event of a Boxxer card on Saturday at the Ovo Arena Wembley in London, the hometown of both men.

“He pushed me every round,” Buatsi said. “He’s a champion.”

The hard-fought victory makes Buatsi the mandatory challenger for reigning titleholder Dmitry Bivol, although he is next headed to a fight with three-belt champion Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound title on June 1.

Buatsi won 117-109, 117-109 and 116-110 and also claimed the British and Commonwealth titles from Azeez, who had to postpone the fight from Oct. 21 until Saturday after suffering a back injury last fall.

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